Flush valve



Oct. 30 1923.' BAZZJM fR. NICHOLS ET AL FLUSH VALVE Fild Nov. 15, 1920 QA v 7 4a 5o 59 al 51 57 as a4 22 Patented Oct. 30, 1923.

FLUSH VALVE.

Application iled November l5, 1920. Serial No. 424,190.

like, and particularly to valves of this type with which the water is admitted to the closet dii'ectly from the source of supply, the opening of the flush-valve being initiated manually, and the valve closing automatically after a predetermined period @fopening. It is the object of our invention to provide a valve of this general character, ot simple and inexpensive construction, capable ot certain and precise operation, and with such durability as to enable extensive operation thereof without repairs, adjustments or other attention. More particular objects of our invention will appear hereinafter'.

Structures embodying our invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in

which F ig. l is a vertical sectional View of the valve in closed position, Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof on the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig.l l, and a detail vertical section showing the valve in open position, and illustrating a slight modification of the structure7 whereby the vent-adjusting means is omitted. f

In the illustrated construction we provide a main body-member 4t of substantially cylindrical forni, having at the upper end thereof a laterally extending internally threaded neck-portion 5, and having at the lower intermediate portion a laterally extending externally threaded neck 6. The upper end or" the bodymember is closed so `as to form therein a pressure-chamber 7. The lower end of the body-member is outwardly shouldered and internally threaded to receive an annular nut In the structure shown in Fig. l, said annular nut 8 serves to detachably connect withthe body-member the ianged end 9 of the elbow IO, by pressing said 'end-flange 9 against the shoulder l1, a gasket l2 being disposed between the flange andthe end-face of the nut, as shown. In the modified structure shown in Fig. 3, the annular nut 8 holds the end-.flange 9 of the nipple l0 Ti'iUs, citizens of the Unitedv Fig. 3 is a, UNITED STATES .PATENT @FFM lil hant.

against the shoulder ll. In the body-niema second ber above the shoulder l1 there is shoulder 13, and beneath said sh oulder is a gasket 14 which is held against the shoulder by a seat-flange 15 which extends out trom the lower part ot deine-like member 16. An annular portion 17 is formed integrally with and extends downwardly 'from the seat-Haiige lvso as to rest upon the upper end of the elbow lO, which thus the dome-member and presses the supports flange l5 toward the shoulder 13. The dome-member extends up into the cylindrical body-member concentrically therewith,

terminating near the level or the upper edge of the opening through the neck 6.

In the sides of the dome-member are a plurality of large radial ports 1S, and also a plurality of s tically extending' ports '19, the lo inall verwer ends oi the latter ports communicating with an annular groove 20 adjoining the upper edge oi the gasket let, and the upper ends of said ports extending' disposed on .Said packing-disk is retained in p through a packing-disk 2l the upper end of the dome.

lace by a washer 22 and a nut 23 which is screwed onto a. threaded nipple 24 extending above the end of the dome. extends vertically A small port or vent 25 through the nipple 24,

and, in the structure shown in Fig. l, the effective opening through said port or vent is controlled by a. needle-valve 26, ot said valve extending' through a formed integrally with the dome,

the stein guide 27 and thc head portion of the valve-stein being threaded and screwed within a boss l0. In the structure needle-valve and the guide 2 are 28 on the elbow. shown in Fig. 3 the omitted,

so that the effective opening or area of the vent 25 is not variable.

The main valve is 29 which fits slidably as to form above said dome a b chamber 30 with which the ports l vent 25 communicate. ot the valve-member 29 is of such as to t loosely within the bore of a cup-shaped member over the dome 16, so

alancing- 9 and the The upper portion diameter the bodymember 4, there being a shoulder 3l formed at the lower edge of the tion of' the valve. The lower cup-shaped valve-member 29 is enlarged headporedge of the adapted to seat upon the inner portion of the gasket la, to form a. duid-tight joint with Vthe seatflange l5. water supply pipe is connected neck 6 of the body-member, and

When the valve is in use the with the the main tween the parts of a. spring e2 shown in Fig.

valve is lieldjdown against its seat on the gasket 14 by the the chamber 7, the water entering said chamber through the loose joint between the head-portion of the valve and the inner surface of the body-ineinber. A manuallycontrolled relief-valve 32 is provided, for reducing the water pressure within the chamber 7, said valve being arranged as follows: The passage through the neck 5 of the body-member communicates withthe chamber 7 through an opening` in the side thereof, and also communicates with a vertical passage extendinp; down at the side of the body-member and turning inwardly at its lower end so as to connect with the annular chamber 34 around the part 17 and beneath. the seat-flange 15. Ports 35 open through the part 17 from the chamber 34C tothe main discharge passage through the elbow. 10. or through the connecting nipple l0 in the structure shown in Fig. 3. The

Vrelief-valve 32 is carried at the inner end of a stein 36 which extends slidably through gland 37 screwed to receive the outer portion of a member 38 which is cenically recessed to receive a packing 89. around the valve-stem. rlhe inner endof the member 38 fit-s into the opening to the pressure-chamber 7, a zgasket 40 being provided to insure a fluid-tight joint berPhe seat for the valve 32 is formed at the inne-r end of the member 38, and the opening through the seat is connected by ports Ll1 with the passage The relief-va lve isnormally held closed by means disposed within a recess in the outer portion of the pgland and pressiu outwardly upon ay cylindrical head '13 secured 'on the valve-.stein 3G. i cap il is screwed onto the outer portion of the flauti 37' and holds the head of a til o' handle 416 against the head Il?) on the relief-valvestein.`

By movingj the tilting handle -lll'in au); direction the relief-valve is pushed inwardly as shown in Fig'. 3, and the water-pressure in the chamber 7 is relieved through the passage 33, the parts being so proportioned that the water in said chamber 7 can escape through the relief valve at a greater rate than it can enter the chamber 7 through the loose joint around the head of the main valve. Upon the ielease of the water pressure from the chamber 7, the pressure of the water from the -supply pipe against the shoulder 31 of the main valve raises said valve to a position as that shown in Fifr. 3. When the valve is in said raised position a large volume of water can pass directly from the supply pipe through the ports 18 to the discharge passage through the elbow 10. or through the nipple 10 in the structure 3, said members being conpressure of the water iiiVV into the neck-portion 5( The inner portion of the gland is chambered 7'is prevented, and the pressure of` water in said chamber again becomes the same a that from the supply pipe around the valve beneath'the shoulder 8.1, the water passing.

into the chamber 7 throughl the loose joint around the head of the main valve. `Upon the restoration of waterpressure in the chamber 7, the same tends to press the main valve downwardly to its seat, whereby to close the ports, 18V and stop theflushing; action. Butthe ldownward movement ofthe valve isretarded andy timed bythe water in the chamber 30, which exerts a partial counterbalanc-ingrv pressure upon the valve. The ratev atwhich the valve will move toward the closed position, and consequently the time that the flushing action will be continued, isv dependent upon the area of the vent 25 proportionally to the area Yof the ports 19,and is dependent also to aI limited extent upon the weight of the valve itself, although the balance ofjiressurcs is` the principal factor Y of the closing operation. Then the vent-adjusting needle-valve 26 is used, as in Fig. l, the period `of operation maybe varied from the. ininimum, whiclroccurs when the vent is fully open, to a maximum depending upon the extent to which the vent is restricted by the needle-valve.

VFrom the foregoing it will be seen that a flushing valve embodying Aour invention may be of simple andi-inexpensive construction, and vnot liable to become defective in its operation through wear or deterioration ofV` its parts. -The relief-valve in closing is actuated| oiilyby the spring' 4Q,.an d thus gently engages its seat, there being substantially 'l no water pressure in the chamber 7 at such times. Tear upon said valve,l by forcible closing under pressure of the water, is thus avoided. VThe main valve alsomoves to closing position slowly and engages ,itsV seat gently, whereby rapid wear or Vdeterioration ofjlseat is obviated. by iitting loosely within the body-member, is notsubjeet to wear, andcannot stiel; and become inoperat've packing or the like.

cont-acting surfaces of the dome 16 andthe main valve,v or wear of the packing-dishV 21,x

will' not materially impairthe operativeness of the valve, as theV effect of such wear is substantially lthe same as in determining; the time Y The main valve,

by vreason ofrswelling of VV'ear of theV slidably a slight enlarging."

'los

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of the feed-ports 19, and results merely iu slightly delaying the closing of the valve, although the reduced friction between the Worn parts tends, on the other hand, to cause a more rapid closing action.

For con'iparative purposes, the head-portion of the main valve may be regarded as a piston movable within the cylinder formed by the upper portion of the body-member, and the lower portion of the main valve may be regarded as a movable cylinder enclosing the stationary piston formed by the domemember 16.

New, having described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a device of the class described, the combination with a housing having water inlet and discharge passages, and a valve controlling main ports opening from said inlet to said discharge passages, of a piston for actuating said valve, there being a chamber above said piston normally filled with water at inlet pressure and tending to close the valve, an annular chamber at the lower side of the piston being constantly exposed to inlet pressure tending to open the valve, means for relieving the pressure above the valve to enable opening thereof by the inlet pressure in the annular chamber, and means forming a chamber below the piston and for feeding to said chamber when the valve is open a balancing water-pressure tending to retard closing of the valve, there being a constant vent from the latter chamber whereby the balancing pressure therein is maintained below the inlet pressure.

2. In a device of the class described, a cyindrical body-member havinga dischargepassage at the bottom thereof and a pressure-chamber in the upper portion thereof, means forming an annular valve-seat in the body-member near the bottom thereof, a valve comprising a hollow cylindrical portion engagable withV the annular valve-seat and having a piston-like head-portion movable within said pressure-chamber, means for supplying water under pressure around said valve beneath said head-portion, the latter working loosely within the body-member whereby to limitedly admit water under pressure to said chamber above the valve head-portion, a fixed member fitting slidably within the cylindrical portion'of the valve whereby to form therein a balancing-chamber, there being a vent from said balancingchamber to the discharge-passage and feedports for admitting water to said chamber from the source of supply, said ports opening inside the annular valve-seat and being closed when the valve is seated, and a man.- ually openable relief-valve controlling a passage from the pressure-chamber to the discharge-passage.

3. In a flush-valve, a cup-shaped main valve having an enlarged head-portion, a body-member enclosing said main valve and having a bottom discharge-passage and a supply-passage for admitting water under pressure around the valve beneath the headportion thereof, the upper part of said bodymember forming a pressure-chamber in which the head-portion of the valve fits loosely whereby to limitedly admit Water under pressure to said chamber, a cylindrical dome-member over which the valve fits slidably whereby to form a variable balancing chamber between the heads of said valve and dome-member, said dome-member having at the bottom thereof an annular seat connected with the body-member between the supply-passage and dischargepassage and engageable by the lower annular edge of the main valve, there being ports in the sides of the dome-member communieating with the discharge-passage and closed by engagement of the main valve with said annular seat, means for admitting water to said balancing-chamber when the valve is raised from said seat, there being a vent from said balancing-chamber to the discharge-passage, and means for relieving water pressure from the pressure-chamber.

Ll. vMechanism as set forth in claim l, including means for adjusting the vent from the balancing chamber to vary the rate of closing of the valve.

ROBERT NICHOLS. THOS. L. TITUS. 

